I... want to talk to strangers - 22

"... Ah?"

Shake shake-

"Hello, Sensei☆ It's the first time we're meeting in person!"

Though I brought along a whole bunch of the Justice Task Force and the Tea Party hosts, when it came to actually retrieving Hoshino from Kaiser, I had no idea where she was.

Perhaps Sensei would know? Thinking that, I immediately headed to Abydos and arrived.

"Seia... Wh-Why did you come here...?"

Sensei looked quite bewildered upon seeing me.

"Ah. There was Seia-san's opinion that Sensei might know."

"Seia-chan may not speak, but she's quite smart, you know?"

"... Ah. You came to save Hoshino too."

After being momentarily flustered by the appearance of students she'd never seen before, Sensei quickly grasped the situation and spoke to me.

"Seia. Do you just need to know where she is?"

Nod-

"... Then come with me somewhere. There's somewhere we need to go."

"Sensei. It's dangerous for you to go alone with Seia-san."

But just as Sensei was about to take me, Nagisa grabbed her arm.

And simultaneously, Ichika and Mika began their scramble.

"Yes, yes☆ How about coming with me?"

"... I'm here too."

Nagisa seemed to have no expectations since it wasn't about combat, but the others were different.

It was almost to the point where sparks were flying from their eyes.

"... Seia. Since when did you become Trinity's idol?"

"...!"

'Why am I an idol?!'

While I was shaking my head with a bewildered expression, Ichika approached me, perhaps having reached an agreement among themselves.

"I won."

"Using rock-paper-scissors is unfair...!"

"...?"

'...It wasn't unfair at all? It was completely fair and square.'

Anyway, Ichika, who had won against Mika in rock-paper-scissors, walked confidently to my side, and Sensei took Ichika and me outside.

"We're going to meet someone called the 'black suit' to find Hoshino."

"..."

'Black Suit...'

I don't know who he is, but I'm already starting to feel uneasy.

* * *

"Good. Sensei, whether it's the adult card or whatever, we don't need to think about such complicated things."

"What do you mean? I just wish you'd return Hoshino quickly."

"There's no need to get angry. Returning Horus is, of course, possible."

"...?"

Black suit was speaking incomprehensibly.

After talking briefly with Sensei, he suddenly said he would return Hoshino?

Thanks to that, Sensei's flustered expression, having come prepared to even use the adult card, was quite something to see.

"Sensei. What's going on here?"

"I, I don't know either. Seia, do you understand?"

Shake shake-

'How would I know... I don't even know who this person is...'

Perhaps Sensei understood my expression, as he patted my head and turned his head.

"So, Black Suit. I understand you'll return Hoshino. But what are the conditions?"

"Ah, conditions. You're talking about those."

Black suit paused for a moment, as if about to impose a huge condition.

"Both of you, please leave. I have something to discuss with Seia-san privately."

"...?"

'M-Me...?'

Why, why me all of a sudden? Out of the blue?

Just as that thought crossed my mind, black suit added a few words.

"It seems... I have something I want to discuss with the outsider."

"...!?"

Did I mishear that just now?

"Outsider... What does that mean...?"

"Are you saying Seia-san is an outsider? Seia-san has been in the Tea Party from the beginning."

"..."

'How... does he know this?'

It seems that the fact my facial expressions are easily read is a disadvantage in times like these.

"Would you mind leaving for a moment? I'd like to speak with her alone."

"..."

Sensei, perhaps having noticed the change in my expression, stepped back.

"A-Are you really going to believe that? Seia-san has a weak body!"

"It seems they have something to talk about."

"Hmm..."

Slide- Click!-

'Ugh... they both left after all.'

Now, only black suit and I remain in his room.

Just in case, Sensei and Ichika are waiting outside the door, but I can't help feeling nervous.

"Yurizono Seia-san. I can tell just by looking."

"...!"

"You're not Seia-san, are you? I'll ask you bluntly. What is your true identity?"

What is my true identity... huh.

At those words, I couldn't help but tilt my head.

"... Why are your ears twitching?"

Well, it's because I don't know who I am either.